BALLINAMALLARD UNITED........ ..0

DERGVIEW............................... 3

BY TOMMY NETHERY

New Carnegie Irish League Second Division champions Dergview crowned an historic season by completing a memorable double over arch rivals Ballinamallard United with a convincing victory at Ferney Park on Saturday.

With the champagne on ice, the Darragh Park outfit showed why they sit proudly on top of the league rankings as strikers Richard Lecky and Gareth Sproule (2) took their combined total to the season to 55.

Ten days earlier, the Mallards bemoaned a narrow 2-1 defeat at the Castlederg venue after a stunning stoppage-time free kick by Sproule but on this occasion there was no disputing the final outcome as the visiting attack tormented a United defence that looked decidedly uneasy throughout the 90 minutes.

With the title in the bag, Dergview posed the early threat with Ballinamallard goalkeeper Trevor Morrison pushing a Lecky pile-driver around his left hand post, that effort arriving moments after visiting custodian James O'Reilly retired with a leg injury sustained as he attempted to clear a dangerous Darren Teague cross.

On 26 minutes ace marksman Lecky made the breakthrough for the visitors. Gareth Sproule picked the pocket of Robert McAuley, in the wake of a Gareth Porter tackle, before sliding the ball effortlessly into the path of Lecky, who exquisitely chipped it over the advancing Morrison from a narrow angle.

That settled the early nerves; the travelling support was in full voice although the visitors breathed a collective sigh of relief when substitute goalkeeper Ashley Barclay made a stunning double stop to deny Darren Higginbotham and then Warner Mullen on the follow-up.

Having survived, Dergview went straight up the other end with Morrison using his fingertips to keep out a Walsh chip before defender Leon Chatres blocked a hooked shot by Lecky on the goal line.

On the stroke of half-time the United custodian again showed razor-sharp reactions to thwart centre-back Colin Robinson and shortly after the restart a long searching pass by Darren Crozier sent Lecky clear but his parting shot was blocked by centre-back Mark Stafford.

That particular counterattack was in direct response to an incisive break at the other end, which saw Mullen beat Barclay to the ball but the back-tracking Robinson cleared the danger.

From that point on the champions showed their class. A lightening fast break by Andrew Sproule on the right had the home rearguard back pedaling and when he slid the ball inside to his namesake Gareth, skipper Chatres sent the hotshot crashing to the ground.

Sproule, a former Ballinamallard player, dusted himself down to send Morrison the wrong way as the visitors went in search of a third.

Midfielder Walsh then threaded Andrew Sproule through but Stafford again put his body on the line as the home side's Matthew Holden, Teague, substitute Aidy McCaffrey and Dergview skipper Davy Burke all received cautions as tempers threatened to boil over.

Moments later, a brilliant reverse pass by McCaffrey carved apart the Derg defence but Barclay rushed off his line to deny Mullen a certain goal.

That missed opportunity represented Ballinamallard's final kick as Dergview, with the midfield quartet of Gary Dickson, Burke, Walsh and Andy Sproule now in complete control, moved in for the kill.

Porter picked McCaffrey's pocket to set up Andy Sproule who was again denied by Morrison before the visitors rubber-stamped their 17th victory of the season with 14 minutes remaining.

Lecky threaded Gareth Sproule through the heart of the defence only to hauled down in the penalty area by McAuley, who received a second yellow for his trouble.

Sproule again produced a deadly finish to mark the beginning of the celebrations.

Ballinamallard manager Whitey Anderson said afterwards: "Congratulations to Dergview. It is a great achievement for them to win the league.

"The league table doesn't lie. They have proved to be the best team this season."

"I felt we lacked a bit of experience and a cutting edge in certain parts of the season. But there are a lot of positives, particularly if we get confirmation of our entry to the Premier Intermediate League. It's something to look forward to," he said.